How to open a head / controller unit

[Simon Knight]

I have a cycle fitted with a NeoDrives X15 and the small battery in the head unit has failed. I have contacted NeoDrives, initially to ask about a problem with the time and here is their answer:

There is an little Battery in the Display unit. This one is Empty, this is not causing a system fail but it can not remember the Time and date anymore. The only thing you can do is buying a new Display Unit or live with the issue. Some Customers have also successfully tried to go to an smartphone shop to let the change the little Batterie inside.

The case can be opend by Heat. But be carefull. Sometimes they brake while doing it. Phone shops do that vary well most of the time.

I wonder if any of you have managed to get similar items open by using heat and can tell me how much to use.

 

[matthewslack]

I would at least talk to relative experts in phone shops first.

Many plastics melt at not much above 100C, so tread carefully. The heat is intended to soften adhesive or sealant, so if you can get a prising tool in place in a joint and then carefully heat around it you might get started.

 

[sjpt]

The NeoDrive reply seems to assume it is all working except the clock. Is that correct, or does the failure have a bigger impact than that?

 

[Simon Knight]

#sjpt . From time to time the lack of internal battery stops the unit switching on but its rare and the milage is also wrong. Also any settings get forgotten. Nothing that is really important just a little bit annoying.

 

[sjpt]

Yes, sounds like quite a bit annoying. Sounds like pretty poor design; doesn't seem to match their (repeated) "no maintenance costs" claims.